Operational amplifier including low DC gain wideband feed forward circuit and high DC gain narrowband gain circuit

ABSTRACT

In an operational amplifier including first and second power supply terminals, first and second input terminals, and a first and second output terminals, a first differential amplifier circuit includes first and second MOS transistors with a common source connected to a first tail current source, first and second load resistors and a first non-doped MOS transistor connected between the first and second resistors and the second power supply terminal. A second differential amplifier circuit includes third and fourth MOS transistors with a common source connected to a second tail current source, third and fourth load resistors and a second non-doped NOS transistor connected between the third and fourth load resistors and the second power supply terminal. A first output circuit includes a fifth MOS transistor with a gate connected to the drain of the second MOS transistor, and a sixth MOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the fifth MOS transistor, and a second output circuit includes a seventh NOS transistor with a gate connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and an eighth MOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the seventh MOS transistor. A first intermediate circuit is connected between the drain of the third NOS transistor and the gate of the sixth MOS transistor, and a second intermediate circuit is connected between the drain of the fourth MOS transistor and the gate of the eighth MOS transistor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a high DC gain wideband operational amplifier operable at a low operating voltage.

2. Description of the Related Art

A prior art operational amplifier is constructed by an input circuit including a differential pair formed by N-channel MOS transistors associated with an N-channel MOS transistor serving as a tail current source and load N-channel MOS transistors, and output circuits connected to the input circuit, each of the output circuits including a drive cascode circuit and a load cascode circuit (see: T. B. Chuo et al., “A 10b, 20 Msample/s, 35 mW Pipeline A/D Converter”, IEEE, Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 30, pp. 166-172, March 1995, and M. Waitari et al., “A 220-MSample/s CMOS Sample-and-Hold Circuit Using Double-Sampling”, Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 18, pp 21-31, 1999). This will be explained later in detail.

In the above-described prior art operational amplifier, however, the minimum operating voltage is relatively high so that the power consumption would be increased.

In order to decrease the minimum operating voltage, the load N-channel MOS transistors of the input circuit may be replaced by non-doped N-channel MOS transistors whose gate-to-source voltage is about 0.1 V; in this case, however, the gate-to-source capacitance of the non-doped N-channel MOS transistors is very large, which would remarkably degrade the bandwidth characteristics.

Also, in the above-described prior art operational amplifier, a high DC gain cannot be realized, since the input circuit adds a non-dominant pole to the transfer function, so that the gain of the input circuit must be kept low enough to ensure that this non-dominant pole lies at a sufficiently high frequency, so that the DC gain is subject to only the output circuits.

Note that, in order to increase the DC gain, triple cascode circuits may be used instead of the above-mentioned cascode circuits, in this case, however, the dynamic output range would be decreased. Also, in order to increase the DC gain, gain boost circuits can be connected to the above-mentioned cascode circuits; in this case, however, the integration would be degraded and the power consumption would be increased. Regarding “gain boost circuits”, refer to FIG. 6 of T. B. Chuo et al., “A 10b, 20 Msample/s, 35 mW Pipeline A/D converters, IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 166-172, March 1995.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a high DC gain wideband operational amplifier operable at a low operating voltage.

According to the present invention, in an operational amplifier including first and second power supply terminals, first and second input terminals, and first and second output terminals, a first differential amplifier circuit includes first and second MOS transistors with a common source connected to a first tail current source, first and second resistors and a first non-doped MOS transistor connected between the first and second load resistors and the second power supply terminal. A second differential amplifier circuit includes third and fourth MOS transistors with a common source connected to a second tail current source, and third and fourth load resistors and a second non-doped MOS transistor connected between the third and fourth load resistors and the second power supply terminal. A first output circuit includes a fifth MOS transistor with a gate connected to the drain of the second MOS transistor, and a sixth MOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the fifth MOS transistor, and a second output circuit includes a seventh MOS transistor with a gate connected to the drain of the first MOS transistor, and an eighth MOS transistor with a gate and a drain connected to the drain of the seventh MOS transistor. A first intermediate circuit is connected between the drain of the third MOS transistor and the gate of the sixth MOS transistor, and a second intermediate circuit is connected between the drain of the fourth MOS transistor and the gate of the eighth MOS transistor.

The first and second non-doped MOS transistors can be replaced by MOS transistors of the second conductivity type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more clearly understood from the description set forth below, as compared with the prior art, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a prior art operational amplifier;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the operational amplifier according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the operational amplifier according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are circuit diagrams illustrating modifications of the operational amplifiers of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the description of the preferred embodiments, a prior art operational amplifier will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 (see: T. B. Chuo et al., “A 10b, 20 Msample/s, 35 mW Pipeline A/D Converters”, IEEE, Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 30, pp. 166-172. March 1995, and M. Waitari et al., “A 220-MSample/s CMOS Sample-and-Hold Circuit Using Double-Sampling”, Analog Integrated Circuits and Signal Processing, 18, pp. 21-31, 1999).

In FIG. 1, a cascode operational amplifier receives differential input voltages V_(in) ⁺ and V_(in) ⁻ at input terminals IN⁺ and IN⁻, respectively, and generates differential output voltages V_(out) ⁺ and V_(out) ⁻ at output terminals OUT⁺ and OUT⁻, respectively.

A bias circuit 1 receives a ground voltage GND and a power supply voltage V_(DD) to generate bias voltages V_(B1), V_(B2) and V_(B3) where GND<V_(B1), GND<V_(B2) and V_(B3)<V_(B4)<V_(DD).

An input circuit 2 is constructed by a differential pair formed by N-channel MOS transistors 21 and 22 associated with an N-channel MOS transistor 23 serving as a tail current source connected to the ground terminal (GND), and load N-channel MOS transistors 24 and 25. The N-channel MOS transistors 21 and 22 have a common source connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 23, gates adapted to receive the input voltages V_(in) ⁺ and V_(in) ⁻, respectively, and drains connected to the sources of the load N-channel MOS transistors 24 and 25, respectively, whose drains are connected to the power supply terminal (V_(DD)). Also, the gates of the N-channel MOS transistors 24 and 25 are controlled by a common mode feedback circuit 26, so that the common mode voltage or intermediate voltage between the differential output voltages V_(out) ⁺ and V_(out) ⁻ is brought close to a predetermined value such as V_(DD)/2.

An output circuit 3A is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 22 to generate the output voltage V_(out) ⁻, and an output circuit 3B is connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 21 to generate the output voltage V_(out) ⁺.

The output circuit 3A (3B) is constructed by a drive cascode circuit formed by N-channel MOS transistors 31 and 33 (32 and 34) connected between the ground terminal (GND) and the output terminal OUT⁻ (OUT⁺), and a load cascode circuit formed by P-channel MOS transistors 35 and 37 (36 and 38) connected between the output terminal OUT⁻ (OUT⁺) and the power supply terminal (V_(DD)). In this case, a voltage at the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 22 (21) is applied to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor 31 (32), and the bias voltage V_(B2) is applied to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor 33 (34). Also, the bias voltage V_(B3) is applied to the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor 35 (36), and the bias voltage V_(B4) is applied to the gate of the P-channel NOS transistor 37 (38).

In the operational amplifier of FIG. 1 manufactured by a 0.5 μm CMOS process, the simulated DC gain was 62 dB and the simulated unity gain frequency was 450 MHz.

In the operational amplifier of FIG. 1, however, the minimum operating voltage is so large that the power consumption would be increased. That is, in the input circuit 2, the minimum operating voltage is determined by a gate-to-source voltage such as 0.65 V of each of the transistors 31 and 25 (32 and 24) plus a saturation voltage such as 0.25 V of one transistor the common mode feedback circuit 26 requires, i.e. , about 1.55 Vtyp (=0.65×2+0.25). On the other hand, in the output circuit 3A (3B), the minimum operating voltage is determined by a saturation voltage such as 0.25V of each of the transistors 31 (32), 33 (34), 35 (36) and 37 (38) plus a peak-to-peak voltage swing such as 0.5 V_(p-p) of the output voltage V_(out) ⁺ and V_(out) ⁻ i.e., about 1.5 Vtyp (=0.25=4+0.5). Finally, the minimum operating voltage is determined by about 1.55 V of the input circuit 2, and in this case, the nominal operating voltage will be 1.8 V in view of temperature characteristics and fluctuation, which would increase the power consumption.

In FIG. 2, which illustrates a first embodiment of the operational amplifier according to the present invention, the bias circuit 1, the input circuit 2, and the output circuits 3A and 3B of FIG. 1 are modified to a bias circuit 1′, an input circuit 2′and output circuits 3A′ and 3B′, respectively. Also, inverter circuits 4A and 4B, another input circuit 5 and another bias circuit 6 are added.

The bias circuit 1′ receives the ground voltage GND and the power supply voltage V_(DD) to generate only the bias voltage V_(B1) and V_(B4).

The input circuit 2′ is constructed by load resistors 24′ and 25′, and a non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 27 with a threshold voltage of about 0.1 V serving as a source follower instead of the load N-channel MOS transistors 24 and 25 of the input circuit 2 of FIG. 1.

On the other hand, the input circuit 5 is constructed by a differential pair formed by N-channel MOS transistors 51 and 52 associated with an N-channel MOS transistor 53 serving as a tail current source connected to the ground terminal (GND), load resistors 54 and 55, and a non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 56 with a threshold voltage of about 0.1 V serving as a source follower connected to the power supply terminal (V_(DD)).

The gate of the non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 27 is connected to the common mode feedback circuit 26, while the gate of the non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 56 is connected to the bias circuit 6.

In the input circuits 2′ and 5, the DC gains are made low, and also, the resistance values of the load resistors 24′, 25′, 54 and 55 are so small that their DC voltage drop is small such as about 0.1 V. Thus, the minimum operating voltage V_(DD) can be decreased. In this case, if the power supply voltage V_(DD) is supplied directly to the load resistors 24′, 25′, 54 and 55, currents flowing through the output circuits 3A′ and 3B′ are affected directly by the power supply voltage V_(DD).

Also, the non-doped N-channel MOS transistors 27 and 56 have a long channel length and large gate-to-source capacitances; in this case, however, only a common mode voltage component flows through the non-doped N-channel MOS transistors 27 and 56, so that the degradation of bandwidth for the amplified differential input voltages V_(in) ⁺ and V_(in) ⁻ would be suppressed.

The output circuit 3A′ (3B′) is of a push-pull type that is constructed by an N-channel MOS transistor 31′ (32′ ), a P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′) and a phase compensation capacitor 35′ (36′).

The inverter circuit 4A (4B) is constructed by an N-channel MOS transistor 41 (42), and a diode-connected P-channel MOS transistor 43 (44).

The input circuit 2′ is connected directly to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistors 31′ and 32′, but the input circuit 5 is connected via the inverter circuits 4A and 4B to the gates of the P-channel MOS transistors 33′ and 34′. In more detail, the drain of the N-channel transistor 22 (21) is connected to the gate of the N-channel MOS transistor 31′ (32′), and the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 51 (52) is connected via the inverter circuit 4A (4B) to the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′).

In order to stably operate the non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 56, the bias circuit 6 has a similar structure to that of the input circuit 5. That is, the bias circuit 6 is constructed by an N-channel MOS transistor 61 corresponding to the N-channel MOS transistor 53, an N-channel MOS transistor 62 corresponding to the N-channel NOS transistors 41 (42), a capacitor 63, a resistor 64 corresponding to the resistors 54 and 55, a non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 65 serving as a source follower corresponding to the non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 56, and a P-channel MOS transistor 66. In this case, the area ratio between the transistors of the bias circuit 6 and their corresponding transistors and the resistance ratio of the resistor 64 and the resistor 54 are determined to define a bias voltage V_(B5), thus stabilizing the currents flowing through the output circuit 3A′ (3B′).

A low DC gain wide feed forward circuit is realized by the input circuit 2′ and the output circuits 3A′ and 3B′. That is, the input voltage V^(in) ⁺ is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 21 to change a current I₁ flowing therethrough, i.e., the drain voltage thereof. Then, this drain voltage is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 32′ to change a current I₄ flowing therethrough, i.e., the output voltage V_(out) ⁺. Thus, the input voltage V_(in) ⁺ is amplified by two transistors, i.e., the N-channel MOS transistors 21 and 32′ in this low DC gain wideband circuit, so that the higher the input voltage V_(in) ⁺, the higher the output voltage V_(out) ⁺, while the lower the input voltage V_(in) ⁺, the lower the output voltage V_(out) ⁺. On the other hand, the input voltage V_(in) ⁻ is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 22 to change a current I₂ flowing therethrough, i.e. the drain voltage thereof. Then, this drain voltage is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 31′ to change a current I₃ flowing therethrough, i.e., the output voltage V_(out) ⁺, Thus, the input voltage V_(in) ⁻ is amplified by two transistors, i.e., the N-channel MOS transistors 22 and 31′ in this low DC gain wideband feed forward circuit, so that the higher the input voltage V_(in) ⁻, the higher the output voltage V_(out) ⁻, while the lower the input voltage V_(in) ⁻, the lower the output voltage V_(out) ⁻.

A high DC gain narrowband circuit is realized by the input circuit 5, the inverters 4A and 4B and the output circuits 3A′ and 3B′. That is, the input voltage V_(in) ⁺ is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 51 to change a current I₅ flowing therethrough, i.e., the drain voltage thereof. Then, this drain voltage is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 41 to change a current I₇ flowing therethrough, i.e., the drain voltage thereof. Finally, this drain voltage is amplified by the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ to change a current I₅ flowing therethrough, i.e., the output voltage V_(out) ⁻. Thus, the input voltage V_(in) ⁺ is amplified by three transistors, i.e., the N-channel MOS transistors 51 and 41 and the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ in this high DC gain narrowband circuit, so that the higher the input voltage V_(in) ⁺, the lower the output voltage V_(out) ⁻, while the lower the input voltage V_(in) ⁺, the higher the output voltage V_(out) ⁻. On the other hand, the input voltage V_(in) ⁻ is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 52 to change a current I₆ flowing therethrough, i.e., the drain voltage thereof. Then, this drain voltage is amplified by the N-channel MOS transistor 42 to change a current I₈ flowing therethrough, i.e., the drain voltage thereof. Finally, this drain voltage is amplified by the P-channel MOS transistor 34′ to change a current I₁₀ flowing therethrough, i.e., the output voltage V_(out) ⁺. Thus, the input voltage V_(in) ⁻ is amplified by three transistors, i.e., the N-channel MOS transistors 52 and 42 and the P-channel MOS transistor 34′ in this high DC gain narrowband circuit, so that the higher the input voltage V_(in) ⁻, the lower the output voltage V_(out) ⁺, while the lower the input voltage V_(in) ⁻, the higher the output voltage V_(out) ⁺.

In FIG. 2, the low DC gain wideband feed forward circuit is connected in parallel with the high DC gain narrowband circuit, so that the operational amplifier of FIG. 2 becomes a high DC gain wideband one.

In FIG. 3, which illustrates a second embodiment of the operational amplifier according to the present invention, the bias circuit 1′ of FIG. 2 is replaced by the bias circuit 1 of FIG. 1, and the inverter circuits 4A and 4B of FIG. 2 are replaced by local negative feedback circuits 7A and 7B, respectively. That is, the local negative feedback circuits 7A and 7B are within the high DC gain narrowband circuit. The two local negative feedback circuits are connected to each other, so that bias currents flowing through the P-channel MOS transistors 33′ and 34′ would be stabilized even in a differential mode by the differential input voltages V_(in) ⁺ and V_(in) ⁻.

The local negative feedback circuit 7A (7B) is constructed by a cascode circuit formed by N-channel MOS transistors 71 and 73 (72 and 74), a cascode circuit formed by P-channel MOS transistors 75 and 77 (76 and 78), and a cascode circuit formed by P-channel MOS transistors 79 and 81 (80 and 82).

The N-channel MOS transistor 71 (72) has a source connected to the ground terminal (GND), a gate connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 51 (52), and a drain. Also, the N-channel MOS transistor 73 (74) has a source connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 71 (72), a gate adapted to receive the bias voltage V_(B2), and a drain.

The P-channel MOS transistor 75 (76) has a source connected to the power supply terminal (V_(DD)), a gate adapted to receive the bias voltage V_(B4), and a drain. Also, the P-channel MOS transistor 77 (78) has a source connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor 75 (76), a gate adapted to receive the bias voltage V_(B3), and a drain connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 73 (74) and the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′).

The P-channel MOS transistor 79 (80) has a source connected to the power supply terminal (V_(DD)), a gate connected to the drain of the p-channel MOS transistor 77 (78) and the gate of the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′), and a drain. Also, the P-channel MOS transistor 81 (82) has a source connected to the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor 79 (80), a gate adapted to receive the bias voltage V_(B3), and a drain connected to the drain of the N-channel MOS transistor 71 (72).

Further, a node between the drain of the P-channel MOS transistor 79 and the source of the P-channel MOS transistor 81 is connected to a node between the drain of the P-channel NOS transistor 80 and the source of the P-channel MOS transistor 82.

In FIG. 3, a low DC gain wideband feed forward circuit is realized in the same way as in FIG. 2. On the other hand, a high DC narrowband circuit is realized by the input circuits, the local negative feedback circuits 7A and 7B, and the output circuits 3A′ and 3B′.

Further, in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the current of the N-channel MOS transistor 27 is controlled by the common mode feedback circuit 26, the common mode voltage or intermediate voltage between the differential output voltage V_(out) ⁺ and V_(out) ⁻ is brought close to a predetermined value such as V_(DD)/2.

In the input circuits 2′ and 5 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the minimum operating voltage is determined by a gate-to-source voltage such as 0.1 V of the non-doped N-channel MOS transistor 27 (56), a bias voltage such as 0.25 V corresponding to a saturation voltage of one MOS transistor the common mode feedback circuit 26 of the bias circuit 6 requires, a voltage drop such as 0.1 V of the resistor 24′ (25′, 54, 55), and a gate-to-source voltage such as 0.65 V of the N-channel MOS transistor 41 (42, 71, 72), i.e., about 1.1 Vtyp (=0.1+0.25+2+0.65).

Also, in the output circuit 3A′ (3B′) of FIGS. 2 and 3, the minimum operating voltage is determined by a saturation voltage such as 0.25 V of each of the transistors 31′ and 33′ (32′ and 34′) plus a peak-to-peak voltage such as 0.5 V_(p-p) of the output voltage V_(out) ⁺ and V_(out) ⁻, i.e., about 1.0 Vtyp (=0.25×2+0.5).

Further, in the inverter circuit 4A (4B) of FIG. 2, the minimum operating voltage is determined by a saturation voltage such as 0.25V of the N-channel MOS transistor 41 (42) plus a gate-to-source voltage such as 0.65 V of the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′), i.e. , about 0.9 Vtyp (=0.25+0.65). On the other hand, in the local negative feedback circuit 7A (7B) of FIG. 3, the minimum operating voltage is determined by a saturation voltage such as 0.25V of each of the N-channel MOS transistors 71 and 73 (72 and 74) plus a gate-to-source voltage such as 0.65 V of the P-channel MOS transistor 33′ (34′), i.e., about 1.15 Vtyp (=0.25×2+0.65).

Therefore, in the operational amplifier of FIG. 2, the minimum operating voltage is about 1.1 V, in this case, the nominal operating voltage will be 1.35 V in view of temperature characteristics and fluctuation, which is decreased by 0.45 V as compared with the operational amplifier of FIG. 1, thus decreasing the power consumption. Also, in the operational amplifier of FIG. 3, the minimum operating voltage is about 1.15 V, in this case, the nominal operating voltage will be 1.4 V in view of temperature characteristics and fluctuations, which is decreased by 0.4 V as compared with the operational amplifier of FIG. 1, thus decreasing the power consumption.

According to the inventor's simulation, in the operational amplifier of FIG. 3, a consumption current of 4.9 mA and a DC gain of 98 dB were obtained under the condition where V_(DD) was 1.5 V, the unity gain frequency was 1.2 GHz and the load capacitance was 1.8 pF.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the non-doped N-channel MOS transistors 27, 56 and 65 can be replaced by P-channel MOS transistors such as P-channel MOS transistors 27′, 56′ and 65′ associated with P-channel MOS transistors 27′a, 56′a and 65′a serving as bias current sources as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate modifications of the operational amplifiers of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, although more currents would be required.

Also, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ground terminal (GND) and the power supply terminal (V_(DD)) can be replaced with each other. In this case, the N-channel MOS transistors are replaced by P-channel MOS transistors, and the P-channel MOS transistors are replaced by N-channel MOS transistors.

As explained hereinabove, according to the present invention, a high DC gain wideband operational amplifier with a low operating voltage can be obtained. 

1. An operational amplifier comprising: first and second power supply terminals; first and second input terminals; first and second output terminals; a first differential amplifier circuit including first and second NOS transistors of a first conductivity type with a common source connected to a first tail current source, first and second load resistors connected to drains of said first and second MOS transistors, respectively, gates of said first and second MOS transistors being connected to said first and second input terminals, respectively, and a first non-doped MOS transistor of said first conductivity type connected between said first and second load resistors and said second power supply terminal; a second differential amplifier circuit including third and fourth MOS transistors of said first conductivity type with a common source connected to a second tail current source, third and fourth load resistors connected to drains of said third and fourth MOS transistors, respectively, gates of said third and fourth MOS transistors being connected to said first and second input terminals, respectively, and a second non-doped MOS transistor of said first conductivity type connected between said third and fourth load resistors and said second power supply terminal; a first output circuit including a fifth MOS transistor of said first conductivity having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said second MOS transistor and a drain connected to said first output terminal, and a sixth MOS transistor of a second conductivity having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the drain of said fifth MOS transistor; a second output circuit including a seventh MOS transistor of said first conductivity having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said first MOS transistor and a drain connected to said second output terminal, and an eighth MOS transistor of said second conductivity having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the drain of said seventh MOS transistor; a first intermediate circuit connected between the drain of said third MOS transistor and the gate of said sixth MOS transistor; and a second intermediate circuit connected between the drain of said fourth MOS transistor and the gate of said eighth MOS transistor.
 2. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first intermediate circuit comprises a first inverter circuit including: a ninth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said third MOS transistor, and a drain; and a tenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the gate of said sixth MOS transistor and the drain of said ninth MOS transistor, and wherein said second intermediate circuit comprises a second inverter circuit including: an eleventh MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fourth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a twelfth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the gate of said eighth MOS transistor and the drain of said eleventh MOS transistor.
 3. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first intermediate circuit comprises a first local negative feedback circuit including: a ninth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said third MOS transistor, and a drain; a tenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said ninth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive a first bias voltage, and a drain connected to the gate of said sixth MOS transistor; an eleventh MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate adapted to receive a second bias voltage, and a drain; a twelfth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said eleventh MOS transistor, agate adapted to receive a third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said tenth MOS transistor; a thirteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminals a gate connected to the gate of said sixth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a fourteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said thirteenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said ninth MOS transistor, and wherein said second intermediate circuit comprises a second local negative feedback circuit including: a fifteenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fourth MOS transistor, and a drain; a sixteenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said fifteenth NOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said first bias voltage, and a drain connected to the gate of said eighth MOS transistor; a seventeenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate adapted to receive said second bias voltage, and a drain; an eighteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said seventeenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said sixteenth MOS transistor; a nineteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate connected to the gate of said eighth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a twentieth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said nineteenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said fifteenth MOS transistor, a node between said thirteenth and fourteenth MOS transistors being connected to a node between said nineteenth and twentieth MOS transistors.
 4. The operational amplifier as set forth claim 1, further comprising a common mode feedback circuit connected between said first and second output terminals and the gate of said first non-doped MOS transistor, said common mode feedback circuit adapted to control said first non-doped MOS transistor so that a common mode voltage component between said first and second output terminals is brought close to a predetermined value.
 5. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bias circuit connected to the gate of said second non-doped MOS transistor including: a bias current source having an end connected to said first power supply terminal, said bias current source being analogous to said second tail current source; a fifth load resistor having an end connected to another end of said current source, said fifth resistor being analogous to said third and fourth resistors; and a non-doped MOS transistor of said first conductivity type connected between another end of said fifth resistor and said second power supply terminal, said non-doped MOS transistor being analogous to said second non-doped MOS transistor.
 6. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 1, wherein a low DC gain feed forward path is realized by said first input circuit and said first and second output circuits, and wherein a high DC gain path is realized by said second input circuit, said first and second amplifier circuits, and said first and second output circuits.
 7. An operational amplifier comprising: a first differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of first N-channel MOS transistors associated with a first tail current source, a pair of first load resistors and a first non-doped N-channel MOS transistor connected to said first load resistors, said first differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify a pair of differential input signals; a second differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of second N-channel MOS transistors associated with a second tail current source, a pair of second load resistors and a second non-doped N-channel MOS transistor connected to said second load resistors, said second differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify said pair of differential input signals; a pair of inverter circuits adapted to further amplify said amplified differential input signals by said second differential amplifier circuit; and a pair of output circuits adapted to output differential output signals by said inverter circuits, wherein a feed forward circuit is realized by said first differential amplifier circuit and said output circuits, and wherein a gain circuit is realized by said second differential amplifier circuit, said inverter circuits and said output circuits.
 8. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 7, wherein said feed forward circuit has low DC gain wideband characteristics, and said gain circuit has high DC gain narrowband characteristics.
 9. An operational amplifier comprising: a first differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of first N-channel MOS transistors associated with a first tail current source, a pair of first load resistors and a first non-doped N-channel MOS transistor connected to said first load resistors, said first differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify a pair of differential input signals; a second differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of second N-channel MOS transistors associated with a second tail current source, a pair of second load resistors and a second non-doped N-channel MOS transistor connected to said second load resistors, said second differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify said pair of differential input signals; a pair of output circuits adapted to further amplify said differential input signals by said local negative feedback circuits; and a pair of local negative feedback circuits adapted to further amplify said amplified differential input signals by said second differential amplifier circuit, said local negative feedback circuits being connected to each other to stabilize bias currents flowing through said first and second output circuits, wherein a feed forward circuit is realized by said first differential amplifier circuits and said output circuits, and wherein a gain circuit is realized by said second differential amplifier circuit, said local negative feedback circuits and said output circuits.
 10. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 9, wherein said feed forward circuit has low DC gain wideband characteristics, and said gain circuit has high DC gain narrowband characteristics.
 11. An operational amplifier comprising: first and second power supply terminals; first and second input terminals; first and second output terminals; a first differential amplifier circuit including first and second MOS transistors of a first conductivity type with a common source connected to a first tail current source, first and second load resistors connected to drains of said first and second MOS transistors, respectively, gates of said first and second MOS transistors being connected to said first and second input terminals, respectively, and a third MOS transistor of a second conductivity type connected between said first and second load resistors and said first power supply terminal; a first bias current source having an end connected to said second power supply terminal, said first bias current source being adapted to supply currents to said first and second load resistors and said third MOS transistor; a second differential amplifier circuit including fourth and fifth MOS transistors of said first conductivity type with a common source connected to a second tail current source, third and fourth load resistors connected to drains of said fourth and fifth MOS transistors, respectively, gates of said fourth and fifth MOS transistors being connected to said first and second input terminals, respectively, and a sixth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type connected between said third and fourth load resistors and said first power supply terminal; a second bias current source having an end connected to said second power supply terminals said second bias current source being adapted to supply currents to said fourth and fifth load resistors and said sixth MOS transistor; a first output circuit including a seventh MOS transistor of said first conductivity having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said second MOS transistor and a drain, and an eighth MOS transistor of a second conductivity having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the drain of said seventh MOS transistor; a second output circuit including a ninth MOS transistor of said first conductivity having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said first MOS transistor and a drain, and a tenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the drain of said ninth MOS transistor; a first intermediate circuit connected between the drain of said second MOS transistor and the gate of said eighth MOS transistor; and a second intermediate circuit connected between the drain of said first MOS transistor and the gate of said tenth MOS transistor.
 12. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first intermediate circuit comprises a first inverter circuit including: an eleventh MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fourth NOS transistor, and a drain; and a twelfth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the gate thereof and the drain of said eleventh MOS transistor, and wherein said second intermediate circuit comprises a second inverter circuit including: a thirteenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fifth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a fourteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate and a drain connected to the gate thereof and the drain of said thirteenth MOS transistor.
 13. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first intermediate circuit comprises a first local negative feedback circuit including: an eleventh MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fourth MOS transistor, and a drain; a twelfth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said eleventh NOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive a first bias voltage, and a drain connected to the gate of said eighth MOS transistor; a thirteenth MOS transistor of said second. conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate adapted to receive a second bias voltage, and a drain; a fourteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said thirteenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive a third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said twelfth MOS transistor; a fifteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate connected to the gate of said eighth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a sixteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said fifteenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said eleventh MOS transistor, and wherein said second intermediate circuit comprises a second local negative feedback circuit including: a seventeenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to said first power supply terminal, a gate connected to the drain of said fifth MOS transistor, and a drain; an eighteenth MOS transistor of said first conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said seventeenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said first bias voltage, and a drain connected to the gate of said tenth MOS transistor; a nineteenth MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate adapted to receive said second bias voltage, and a drain; a twentieth NOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said nineteenth MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said eighteenth MOS transistor; a twenty-first MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to said second power supply terminal, a gate connected to the gate of said tenth MOS transistor, and a drain; and a twenty-second MOS transistor of said second conductivity type having a source connected to the drain of said twenty-first MOS transistor, a gate adapted to receive said third bias voltage, and a drain connected to the drain of said seventeenth MOS transistor, a node between said fifteenth and sixteenth MOS transistors being connected to a node between said twenty-first and twenty-second MOS transistors.
 14. The operational amplifier as set forth claim 11, further comprising a common mode feedback circuit connected between said first and second output terminals and the gate of said third MOS transistor, said common mode feedback circuit adapted to control said first MOS transistor so that a common mode voltage component between said first and second output terminals is brought close to a predetermined value.
 15. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 11, further comprising abias circuit connected to the gate of said sixth MOS transistor including: a third bias current source having an end connected to said first power supply terminal, said current source being analogous to said second tail current source; a seventh load resistor having an end connected to another end of said current source, said fifth resistor being analogous to said third and fourth resistors; a twenty-third MOS transistor of said second conductivity type connected between another end of said fifth resistor and said first power supply terminal, said twenty-third MOS transistor being analogous to said sixth MOS transistor; and a fourth bias current source having an end connected to said second power supply terminal, said fourth bias current source being adapted to supply currents to said seventh load resistor and said twenty-third MOS transistor.
 16. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 11, wherein a low DC gain feed forward path is realized by said first input circuit and said first and second output circuits, and wherein a high DC gain path is realized by said second input circuit, said first and second amplifier circuits, and said first and second output circuits.
 17. An operational amplifier comprising: a first differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of first N-channel MOS transistors associated with a first tail current source, a pair of first load resistors and a first P-channel MOS transistor connected between said first load resistors and said first power supply terminal, said first differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify a pair of differential input signals; a first bias current source adapted to supply currents to said first load resistors and said first P-channel MOS transistor; a second differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of second N-channel MOS transistors associated with a second tail current source, a pair of second load resistors and a second P-channel MOS transistor connected between said second load resistors and said first power supply terminal, said second differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify said pair of differential input signals; a fifth bias current source adapted to supply currents to said second load resistors and said second P-channel MOS transistor; a pair of inverter circuits adapted to further amplify said amplified differential input signals by said second differential amplifier circuit; and a pair of output circuits adapted to output said differential input signals by said inverter circuits, wherein a feed forward circuit is realized by said first differential amplifier circuit and said output circuits, and wherein a gain circuit is realized by said second differential amplifier circuit, said inverter circuits and said output circuits.
 18. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 17, wherein said feed forward circuit has low DC gain wideband characteristics, and said gain circuit has high DC gain narrowband characteristics.
 19. An operational amplifier comprising: a first differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of first N-channel MOS transistors associated with a first tail current source, a pair of first load resistors and a first P-channel MOS transistor connected between said first load resistors and said first power supply terminal, said first differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify a pair of differential input signals; a first bias current source adapted to supply currents to said first load resistors and said first P-channel MOS transistor; a second differential amplifier circuit formed by a pair of second N-channel MOS transistors associated with a second tail current source, a pair of second load resistors and a second P-channel MOS transistor connected between said second load resistors and said first power supply terminal, said second differential amplifier circuit being adapted to amplify said pair of differential input signals; a second bias current source adapted to supply currents to said second load resistors and said second P-channel MOS transistor; a pair of output circuits adapted to further amplify said differential input signals by said local negative feedback circuits; and a pair of local negative feedback circuits adapted to further amplify said amplified differential input signals by said second differential amplifier circuit, said local negative feedback circuits being connected to each other to stabilize bias currents flowing through said first and second output circuits, wherein a feed forward circuit is realized by said first differential amplifier circuits and said output circuits, and wherein a gain circuit is realized by said second differential amplifier circuit, said local negative feedback circuits and said output circuits.
 20. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 19, wherein said feed forward circuit has low DC gain wideband characteristics, and said gain circuit has high DC gain narrowband characteristics.
 21. An operational amplifier comprising; a first differential pair connected to ends of first resistors serving as drain loads, other ends of said first resistors adapted to receive a first intermediate voltage; and a second differential pair connected to ends of second resistors serving as drain loads, other ends of said second resistors adapted to receive a second intermediate voltage, said first differential pair forming an input circuit for a gain path, said second differential pair forming an input circuit for a feed forward path feed forwarding said gain path, so that signals from said gain path and said feed forward path are combined at output terminals, thus constituting a parallel path by said gain path and said feed forward path.
 22. The operational amplifier as set forth in claim 21, wherein said first intermediate voltage is a voltage generated from a circuit analogous to said first differential pair, and said second intermediate voltage is a voltage generated from a common mode feedback circuit. 